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As part of our visit to the Buhongwa Compassion center in Mwanza, Tanzania, we had the opportunity to visit the family of Latecia, a little girl that is part of the Compassion International center, but still waiting for a sponsor.
She is just three years old.
That same three year old led us on a 15 minute walk along meandering dirt paths to her home so that we could meet her family. {That thought alone overwhelms me, people}. The thought of my child walking around our neighborhood alone is enough to scare me and yet, she knows the way and was able to guide us to her house.
We met her brother, Michael just before we reached the house. He watched us enter and followed us into their small, dark home. No water. Their source of fresh water is the Buhongwa child development center where Latecia attends the program. 15 minutes away.
Windows were blocked with bricks and covered to keep pests out, so their small house was dim and we all struggled to see at first. Moments after we sat down on the couch, something scurried over my feet. I’ll admit I made a small yelp. It was their cat, which was followed later by a chicken.
Agnes is a single mother with two children. She rents her small house with the money that she earns selling vegetables at the market. When we asked her what her struggles were for her family, she spoke of the lack of food. If she doesn’t have enough, she goes without and feeds her children instead.
My heart is breaking.
We spent more time asking her questions about what it means to her in having Latecia participate in the Compassion International center. Does it help her family?
The answers? A good education. Medical care {because she has concerns about some things with Latecia} and the center has staff that can help her. Food is also available for her daughter when she attends the program.
During much of the time we spent with Agnes and her children, she was very serious and soft spoken. Before we left, we asked if we could pray with her and she said yes. No interpretation was made ~ just prayers from our heart.
As we left, we snapped a few pictures of Agnes and her family in the doorway of their home. Sweet smiles. An amazingly beautiful woman who cares so much about her children and wants them to have a better life than she herself does.
Latecia walked back with us to the Buhongwa child development center. My heart is just overwhelmed with how a mother would feel watching her children struggle with such basic needs such as where the next meal is coming from.
This mother is the one whose face I looked at and saw hope, because she sees the blessing and benefits that her child receives through the assistance of Compassion International.
Will you be a part of that hope?
If you would like to specifically sponsor a child from the Buhongwa child development center, follow this link to see the children that are available for sponsorship . These children have become a part of the Compassion program, but need families that are willing to open their hearts and sponsor monthly. Once all of the children from the Buhongwa center have been sponsored, you can sponsor any child in Tanzania.
Those who went on the home visits today will also be sharing how they were impacted as the day progressed. Be sure to visit the Compassion Bloggers website to visit the blogs of others and read more. I can’t wait to share more with you this week, especially as I meet one of the children that we sponsor and hope you will continue following!
The printables shared on this site are FREE of charge unless otherwise noted, and you are welcome to download them for your personal and/or classroom use only. However, free or purchased printables are NOT to be reproduced, hosted, sold, shared, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system (such as Scribd or Google docs). My printables are copyright protected and I appreciate your help in keeping them that way.
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Jesus- Thank you for always opening our eyes to the poor, brokenhearted and the ones left behind. May Jolanthe continue to being glory to You. May she be encouraged, and bring hope. Amen
Wow, just wow. So simple, yet SO profound…the situation, your words, the hope, just everything. Love you friend, thanks for bringing us a bit of Tanzania and Compassion.
Oh, Jolanthe, thank you. Thank you for opening my eyes and showing me the real important – for helping me get out of my own selfish sorting by self. I love that you are on this trip. Your voice, your compassion for these little ones and their families blesses me greatly.
You are in my prayers.
Rachel
“A Little Child Shall Lead Them” oh what true words you have shared here. My heart aches to think of these little ones until I remember to think of the One Who Leads Them! Thank you Compassion Int for making a way for so many to learn of a Savior who loves them. Thank you for making it easy for people like me to help, even in small ways. And thank you Jolanthe for your wonderful posts. I feel like I am with you. God bless you!
I certainly can’t even imagine my 12 year old walking 15 minutes around our neighborhood alone. How heart-breaking! But like you shared with us, this mom has hope because Compassion is there to help her family. I pray that someone sponsors little Leticia!
Thank you for bringing these pictures, faces, and LIVES to us through your blog. We sponsor a girl in Tanzania and I love to see the good that is happening through the sweet letters we receive and through posts like these. Thank you for going and sharing with us.
Hailey ~
Know that your letters mean the WORLD to that little girl!! It was so humbling to see the kids race to show us the letters and pictures they had received from their sponsors. They are treasured more than we can even understand!
She is such a cutie!! Your words are going to change lives, Jolanthe. Thank you for bringing Tanzania to us. Praying for you. <3
She is a beauty indeed…such strength…thank you for sharing!
I missed this post yesterday. What a great post! Oh the crazy emotions you feel on these trips. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Thank you, thank you.
Steve ~ Thanks so much for your encouragement this past week. :) It truly means SO much!
My eyes can’t help but mist over when I think of my 3-year-old granddaughter wandering around by herself and thinking that this is everyday life for Latecia and other children like her. Thank you for sharing this beautiful snapshot with us…
Oh, Jolanthe! I’m with you–a 3 year old leading the way? I barely let my 3yo walk down the stairs alone.
So, she’s a part of the program but not sponsored? (Surely, after this post someone snatched her up!)
Thanks for sharing with us! Praying for you!
Amazing! Thank you for your service.
Unbelievable! My heart is crying out after reading this and yet they have such beautiful smiles on their faces. Prayer works and strengthens the broken. Thank you for keeping us posted and the pictures you have taken almost tells the story itself. God Bless the little children of Tanzania! :)